Crahk



S. F. BATES.

CRANK.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJI. 1919.-

Patented Nov. '25, 1919.

atto'anuao 'nnrrn srarns SAMUEL F. Barns, on PENIEL, TEXAS.

CRANK.

Application filed August 11, 1919. Serial No. 316,651.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peniel, in the county of Hunt and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Crank, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to manually operable starters for internal combustion engines, the principal object being to provide an engine starter which, should the engine back-fire will not wrench or otherwise injure the arm of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a starter for internal combustion engines wherein the crank shaft is adapted to be operatively connected with the drive shaft of the engine to start the engine, the connection between the crank-shaft and engine shaft beingbroken to allow the engine shaft to rotate in a counter-clock-wise di re ction upon back-firing of the engine, thus obviating the injury of the o'perators members. 4

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical internal combustion engine starter which may be used in conjunction with the usual types of engines.

Another general object of the invention is to provide a crank having the above characteristics which is simple in constructlon, which consists of few parts, and which may be manufactured and sold at minimum cost.

With the above and other objects and advantages in mind, the 'nvention consists of combinations of elements, constructions and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter enlarged upon and set forth in the appended claims, the invention being illustrated in the attached drawings, where- 1n:-

Figure 1 is an elevation ofmy improved starter taken at the upper end; Fig. 2 is a front elevation. I

Referring to the drawing wherein like characters of reference designate like parts in all the views, the numeral 5 designates the drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, which extends through a bracket 5 adapted to be mounted upon the front of the auto. An annulus 6 is fixed upon the outer end of this shaft from which extends a dovetail tongue 7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

Rotatable in the outer end of the shaft is a ratchet wheel 8 held against rotation in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring actuated pawl 9, mounted on the bracket 5. A crank arm 10 is pivoted to the ratchet wheel 8 as indicated at 12, the movement of which toward the pinion is limited by a stop 13 carried by the ratchet wheel.

A bifurcated .resilient member having a recess 15 in its outer end for the reception of the tongue 7 when the engine shaft 5 is being started, is provided which is pivoted intermediate its ends to the crank arm 10.

In the operation of the device, the crank arm 10 is swung toward the shaft until the tongue 7 engages in the recess in the bifurcated member, thus locking the crank arm to the engine shaft. Upon back-firing of the engine the tongue will swing the bifurcated member parallel with the crank arm and then pass out of the opening in the bifurcated member, thereby allowing the crank arm to remain stationary while the engine shaft is rotating.

The construction here shown and de-v scribed is one example of the present invention but it is to be understood that the structure may be modified and that such limits of modification are only governed by what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an engine starter, the combination with an engine shaft, of a ratchet wheel loosely mounted thereon and held against rotation in one direction, a crank arm pivoted to the ratchet wheel, and a connection carried by the crank-arm to be operatively connected with the shaft to rigidly connect the crank arm and shaft upon movement of the former toward the latter to rotate the same, the back firing of the engine causing the connection to become disengaged from the shaft to allow the crank arm to remain stationary. r 7

2. In an engine starter, the combination with an engine shaft, of a ratchet wheel mounted loosely thereon, means for securing the ratchet wheel against rotation in one direction, an operating arm having one 0 its ends pivotally connected to the ratchet wheel, a bifurcated member supported by the operating arm, a tongue supported by the engine shaft, and adapted to engage between the furcations of the bifurcated memher, When the operating arm is moved in one direction, said tongue adapted to auto matically move from engagement ith the 5 bifurcated member, when the operatinglever is moved in the opposite directions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn, I have hereto affixed my signat i E. H. STUcKs,

J. E. GRAY. 

